Mac Book Prohttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/868/all
enNiko Pack Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/niko_pack_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Having a photo shoot on the other side of town in the pouring rain with no way to get there but on a bicycle (or parkour) is going to require a special kind of camera bag, and Chrome is betting you’ll want their new Niko Camera Pack for your pricey gear on such a day. <br /><br />Chrome built their reputation as a leader of San Francisco–made, hand-crafted messenger bags with the kind of aesthetic that appealed to the skateboarders and bike messengers who founded the company. Known for their straps with vintage seatbelt buckles, Chrome bags have become as much a fashion statement as fixed-gear bikes and wearing your keys on a carabiner. Thankfully, the newest addition to Chrome’s camera bag line comes without the seatbelt, and favors more serious photographers who have a lot more gear.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/04/screen_9.png" /></p><p>This model isn’t made locally (unless you live near Guangzhou, China), but it’s still backed with lifetime warranty for defects and carries their assurance of being “bomb-proof.” I did not try to blow it up, but it has been dragged around for the past few weeks, on four different shoots, and this is what I crammed into its main compartment: 15-inch MacBook Pro (without sleeve—the laptop compartment is padded), Nikon D800 with battery booster and 17–35 2.8 attached (hood reversed), Nikon D3 (body only), 24–70 2.8, Quantum Turbo SC, and 2 radio slaves. In the top compartment, which I like to call the “junk drawer,” you can fit some pretty big items: Nikon 70–200 2.8 (wrapped), an SB-28 flash, as well as various cords for the laptop, flash, and chargers. It wasn’t graceful packing, and it weighed 29 pounds, but it proved the awesome carrying-power-to-size ratio of this bag. This is largely accomplished by using thinner padding inside and out. And while I still think it’s a safe bag, I certainly wouldn’t throw it around. <br /><br />The adjustable chest strap is fantastic both on and off the bike, but I found the padding of the shoulder straps simply adequate. I also found the adjusters unnecessarily made of metal, as they tended to thwack anything nearby when swinging the bag around. The branding is downplayed nicely to a simple logo on the outer tripod/skateboard straps, and the textured foam backing will be appreciated on humid days. The waterproof zippers aced my garden-hose test, but their design also makes them sluggish for quickly retrieving your camera, and the top-compartment zippers would be greatly helped with longer pulls. Also, the bag tends to tip over sometimes since the base isn’t totally rigid. And that’s something you don’t want to happen on wet ground. <br /><br /><strong>The bottom line.</strong> It’s taken me years, but I’ve finally learned there is no perfect camera bag, only the right bag for the right day. There’s a lot of competition in this price range, but for fans of Chrome products who skate or bike from shoot to shoot, and don’t carry the heaviest lenses, this bag will be as dependable and stylish as they’ve come to expect.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.chromeindustries.com" target="_blank">Niko Pack</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Chrome Industries </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.chromeindustries.com" target="_blank">www.chromeindustries.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$180 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Fits up to a 15-inch MacBook Pro, plus camera(s) and other gear.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Holds a boatload of gear for its size. Durable and weatherproof. It doesn’t look like a camera bag. Straps on the outside can hold a tripod.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Slow zippers. Divider system lacking. Shoulder straps need more padding. It ain’t cheap.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/niko_pack_review#commentsReviewscamerasChrome IndustriesMac Book ProNiko PackStorageStorageTue, 09 Apr 2013 21:32:10 +0000Mark Madeo16687 at http://www.maclife.comA-Jays Four Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/a-jays_2672_screen.jpg" width="620" height="448" /></p><p>When I was a kid, I discovered something amazing: detangler. You spray some on your hair, and voilà, a comb will run right through it no matter how tangled it was. To my knowledge, this product hasn’t been invented for headphone cables, and that’s a darn shame. But Jays seems to have solved the tangled cables problem anyway with the a-JAYS Four. These earbuds sport a flat rubber cable that just doesn’t tangle. I really tried, too. I balled them up and shoved them in my pocket, let them roll around in the bottom of my bag, never used a carrying case -- I even wore them in bed a few times. The cable is just wide and flat enough to resist knotting, and it simply doesn’t catch on itself when you ball it up. There’s no need to wrap or coil the headphones on anything. Just pull them out of wherever you stashed them, give ’em a shake, and they’re ready to go, untangled. <br /><br />The sound doesn’t live up to $300 audiophile-level earbuds, but my music sounded just as full and loud as it does through my usual ’buds (the Scosche IDR655m, which have a $99.99 MSRP but go for around $40 online). Finding the best fit does impact how much detail you can hear, so Jays includes five sets of silicone tips. The three-button remote and mic are on the right cable, around chin level—callers could hear me fine, and the buttons are easy to click to adjust the volume, pick a new track, or summon Siri. My only complaints are the logos (one below each earbud, and a third on the headphone jack—feels like overkill) and that the L-shaped headphone jack doesn’t fit with every iPhone case.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>If you hate having to untangle your earbuds every time you want to use them, these will quickly earn your undying devotion. They can be found for less than $70 online, and feel built to last.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">A-Jays Four</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Jays </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">www.jays.se</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$79.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Device with 1/8-inch headphone jacks</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Truly tangle free. Comes in white or black. Remote is easy to use.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Lots of logos. Plug on white version picked up a little blue dye from a jeans pocket.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review#commentsReviewsAudioearbudsearphonesiPadiphoneiPodiPodiPod and iPhoneitouchMacMac Book ProVideoiPadiPhoneiPodMacTue, 21 Aug 2012 14:00:04 +0000Susie Ochs14747 at http://www.maclife.comA-Jays Four Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review_0
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/08/a-jays_2672_screen.jpg" width="620" height="448" /></p><p>When I was a kid, I discovered something amazing: detangler. You spray some on your hair, and voilà, a comb will run right through it no matter how tangled it was. To my knowledge, this product hasn’t been invented for headphone cables, and that’s a darn shame. But Jays seems to have solved the tangled cables problem anyway with the a-JAYS Four. These earbuds sport a flat rubber cable that just doesn’t tangle. I really tried, too. I balled them up and shoved them in my pocket, let them roll around in the bottom of my bag, never used a carrying case -- I even wore them in bed a few times. The cable is just wide and flat enough to resist knotting, and it simply doesn’t catch on itself when you ball it up. There’s no need to wrap or coil the headphones on anything. Just pull them out of wherever you stashed them, give ’em a shake, and they’re ready to go, untangled. <br /><br />The sound doesn’t live up to $300 audiophile-level earbuds, but my music sounded just as full and loud as it does through my usual ’buds (the Scosche IDR655m, which have a $99.99 MSRP but go for around $40 online). Finding the best fit does impact how much detail you can hear, so Jays includes five sets of silicone tips. The three-button remote and mic are on the right cable, around chin level--callers could hear me fine, and the buttons are easy to click to adjust the volume, pick a new track, or summon Siri. My only complaints are the logos (one below each earbud, and a third on the headphone jack--feels like overkill) and that the L-shaped headphone jack doesn’t fit with every iPhone case.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>If you hate having to untangle your earbuds every time you want to use them, these will quickly earn your undying devotion. They can be found for less than $70 online, and feel built to last.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">A-Jays Four</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Jays </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.jays.se" target="_blank">www.jays.se</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$79.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Device with 1/8-inch headphone jacks</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Truly tangle free. Comes in white or black. Remote is easy to use.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Lots of logos. Plug on white version picked up a little blue dye from a jeans pocket.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/ajays_four_review_0#commentsReviewsAudioearbudsearphonesiPadiphoneiPodiPodiPod and iPhoneitouchMacMac Book ProVideoiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 09 Aug 2012 18:01:20 +0000Susie Ochs14748 at http://www.maclife.comCooler Master Arc Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/cooler_master_arc_review
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2012/07/arc_forward1_b_screen1.png" width="620" height="412" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Shrink your Mac's footprint.</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/twelvesouth_bookarc" target="_blank">I reviewed the TwelveSouth BookArc (now the BookArc Pro) back in 2010</a>, and more than two years later I still use it every day. The new <a href="http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=3088&amp;product_name=ARC" target="_blank">Arc stand from Cooler Master</a> keeps my MacBook Pro standing up tall on my desk, just like the BookArc, and it’s even got a second perpendicular slot to hold an iPad. It’s unfailingly sturdy--weighing in at nearly 30 ounces (almost 2 pounds), it doesn’t slide around on my desk, even if I accidentally bump it while putting down my coffee thermos. But it doesn’t have the smooth, Mac-like look of the BookArc, or the built-in cable management. <br /><br />Available in white or black, the Arc is covered in glossy plastic, with gray rubber-lined slots for your MacBook and your iPad. Obviously, you can only use one at a time. The iPad fits in either orientation, but when you type on the onscreen keyboard, it does wobble in the stand a little bit. You can keep an iPad plugged in while it’s in the Arc, since the deeper MacBook Pro slot leaves enough room for the charging cable to reach the 30-pin port on the bottom of the iPad.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.maclife.com/files/u325188/2012/07/black_aerial_screen2.png" width="620" height="369" /></p><p>But when using this with a MacBook Pro, the cables just stick out the side. The BookArc has an open area underneath the arch, and a cable management clip that I use to keep a few cables attached, so they don’t fall off the desk when I disconnect them. The Arc is no help there.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line. </strong>The Arc beats the BookArc on versatility and its ability to stay put. But the BookArc wins the beauty contest, plus it’s $10 cheaper. Still, if you want one stand for your iPad and MacBook Pro, the Arc is a solid choice.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.coolermaster-usa.com" target="_blank">Arc</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Cooler Master </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.coolermaster-usa.com" target="_blank">www.coolermaster-usa.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$59.95 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Any model of MacBook Pro and/ or iPad</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Nice and heavy. Comes in white or black. Saves space.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Doesn't hold on to the cables like the BookArc Pro.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/cooler_master_arc_review#commentsReviewsCooler Master ArciPadMacMac Book ProiPadMacMon, 23 Jul 2012 14:00:21 +0000Susie Ochs14543 at http://www.maclife.comApple Releases Firmware for Latest MacBookshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_releases_firmware_latest_macbooks
<!--paging_filter--><p><img height="200" src="/files/u53/deadmac.jpg" width="237" /></p><p>Apple has just <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/12/10/apple_releases_firmware_fixes_for_latest_macbook_lines.html" target="_blank">released </a>both EFI and SMC firmware fixes for the latest MacBook line (those released after January of this year). The updates are for the regular 13-inch MacBook, MacBook Air and 15-inch MacBook Pro. </p><p>The EFI updates issues with the stability of the systems, though there were no specific criteria. However, according to the Apple support boards, this may apply to systems that randomly freeze, especially those that are running more than the base amount of memory.</p><p>The SMS fixes improve the reliability of the MacSafe power connector’s indicator light, which lets users know when the battery is fully charged. </p><p>Each of the updates requires Max OS X 10.5.5 or later.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_releases_firmware_latest_macbooks#commentsNewsMac Book ProThu, 11 Dec 2008 00:47:18 +0000Florence Ion3549 at http://www.maclife.comNVIDIA Faulty Graphics Chips in Your MacBook Pro?http://www.maclife.com/article/news/nvidia_faulty_graphics_chips_your_macbook_pro
<!--paging_filter--><p><img height="242" src="/files/u55/nvidia_9600m_1.gif" width="380" /> </p><p><a href="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/921/1049921/inquirer-confirms-apple-macbook-pros-have-nvidia-bad-bump-material" target="_blank">The Inquirer</a> was kind enough to present to the world, evidence that the current 15-inch MacBook Pro may still be plagued with faulty graphics chips. <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/03/nvidia-reports-gpu-failures-in-significant-quantities-of-laptops/" target="_blank">NVIDIA reported manufacturing defects</a> back in July that ended up affecting some MacBook Pros. NVIDIA assured us that the problems had been fixed, but according to The Inquirer, not so much. <br /><br />The Inquirer claims to have found issues with off-the-shelf 15-inch MacBook Pros that are similar to the defects initially posted by NVIDIA. <br /><br />&quot;So, what does this all mean?&quot; writes Charlie Demerjian. &quot;It suggests that there are 15-inch Macbook Pros being sold with 'bad bumps,' the same materials that brought down so many HP, Dell and Apple parts, both laptop and desktop. For some odd reason, Nvidia really does not want you to know this.&quot;<br /><br />Mike Hara of NVIDIA has denied the association of the faulty chips and the MacBook Pros and had the following comment: &quot;The GeForce 9600 GPU in the MacBook Pro does not have bad bumps. The material set (combination of underfill and bump) that is being used is similar to the material set that has been shipped in hundreds of millions of chipsets by the world's largest semiconductor company.&quot;<br /><br />The faulty graphics chip may be responsible for the &quot;<a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/10/some-macbook-pros-affected-by-nvidia-gpu-failures/" target="_blank">black screen of death</a>&quot; that some MacBook Pro users have unluckily encountered while gaming. </p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/nvidia_faulty_graphics_chips_your_macbook_pro#commentsNewsMac Book ProNvidiaWed, 10 Dec 2008 17:27:16 +0000Danny Estrada3546 at http://www.maclife.com